Helsinki to donate 4 more used ambulances to Ukraine

The City of Helsinki has taken a move to donate four decommissioned ambulances to emergency medical services in Ukraine, said the city in a press release on Friday.

The donation’s value is estimated at EUR 48,000.

The city is making preparations to donate the ambulances and city’s Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Committee will process the proposal next week.

After that the Helsinki City Board is scheduled to make a decision on the donation.

“Helsinki has supported Ukraine in many ways since the start of Russia’s war of aggression and we intend to continue this support. Ukraine and its people need all the help we can offer, and we here in Helsinki are committed to helping them as long as is necessary,” said Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen.

The City of Helsinki’s Rescue Services already donated five ambulances to Ukraine earlier this year, after a similar decision from the City Board.

The ambulances that are being donated are 2013 models and have served until now as back-up units for the City of Helsinki’s Rescue Services.

The city’s Rescue Services put out a tender for the purchase of 15 new ambulances a few years ago, and the new vehicles were delivered in summer 2022.

The life cycle of a Rescue Services ambulance is about three years from the time it is first taken into use, after which the units serve as back-up units for 3–5 years.

Rescue Services has repaired, maintained and equipped the ambulances that are slated for donation, so they will be ready for active use by emergency medical services in Ukraine.